Customer Reviews

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion

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Southern Harmony is probably the most popular hymnbook in history, having gone through editions in 1835, 1847, and 1854 as well as reprints in 1939, 1966, 1987, and 1993. After 1835, William Walker, its compiler, signed his name "William Walker, ASH"-- that is, Author of Southern Harmony. He was rightly proud of his achievement. The book includes the best of early-nineteenth-century American hymns, including many written by Walker himself. It was an influential source for many subsequent hymnals.

Southern Harmony is a shape-note hymnal, in which different notes have different shapes, enabling easy transposition between keys. The sopranos sing descants; the melodies are in the tenor voice.

And what melodies! The tunes (and lyrics) of this book will stun you with their plain-spoken power and beauty. Some (Amazing Grace, Rock of Ages) are familiar; some (Resignation --"My Shepherd Will Supply My Need"-- and Wondrous Love) are becoming better known; others have been arranged by contemporary musicians such as Alice Parker and Mack Wilberg. Many dozens of others are gems waiting to be mined.

The melodies in this book tend to display their Gaelic origins. Most are based on a pentatonic scale. Many are in minor keys, and many more are modal (especially Dorian, Phrygian, and Mixolydian). Harmonies are primitive but forceful.

This is an important part of our musical heritage. Anyone interested in church music will find Southern Harmony an inspiring collection that amply rewards hours of study.

Sadly the print is dim and hard to read. If you are poring over a rare first edition it is easy to forgive, but in a reproduction you would expect better. An ink shortage at the University of Kentucky?

This is still a very fresh and powerful collection of popular Southern Gospel hymns. The style is close to Anglo-American folksong, the arrangements by William Walker seem to be semi-improvised, breaking most of the rules that had already come in the North with Lowell Mason "scientific" settings in a standard Classical style. This is definitely "back to the roots", before any organ had a chance to influence how the assembly actually felt for performing hymns in church or at home! Refreshing!!!

Having become interested in the shape note singing music several years ago, I found several sources online where i could listen to examples. The main sources are 'Sacred Harp' and 'Southern Harmony'. I felt the need to have both of these resources available to better understand the concept. I already had a 'Sacred Harp' but found it not inclusive of material from other sources, especially 'Southern Harmony', which is why I purchased it. What surprised me was the printed scores appear to be a facsimile of the original, some pages seem to be a bit fzzy or out of focus. All in all, i am sill pleased with my purchase.

An interesting piece of history of the development of earlier American hymnology. Also interesting is, some of the wording is funny.